Slide fastener machine



Nov. 24, 1942.

C. G. JOHANNESMEYER SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE Filed July 1, 1940 '4Sheets-Sheet l a fi mg 8 g 4 fi mm IN VEN TOR. Ujzmissfi} wlzmnesmqyz ATRNEY.

1942 c. JOHANNESMEYER 2,302,910

SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE Filed July 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "VI/Aif'kalles 6; Jakarzmsmqyez;

BY y

AT ORNEY v c. G. JOHANNESM EYER v2,302,910

' SLIDE FAS1ENER"MACHINE Eiled July l, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet a A TTORNEY.

c. e. JQHANNESMEYER 2,302,910

SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE I Filed. July 1, 1940 4 Shets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.LIzarles 6', dbkmzzesmqgwz; 38 38 BY A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 24, 1942 Charles G. Johannesmeyer,

Meadville, Pm, as-

signor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania -Application July1, 1940, Serial No. 343,415

12 Claims.

My invention relates to slide fastener manufacture and more particularlyto an improved automatic machine for removing from slide fastenerstringers certain of the fastener elements after they have been onceattached to the tapes of the stringers.

In slide fastener manufacture it is customary to make long lengths ofso-called stringers consisting usually of a beaded edge tape and groupsof fastener elements attached to the beaded edge.

The groups may be of almost any length from three inches to forty-eightinches or more, depending upon the length of fastener beingmanufactured. Between the groups there is a blank space on the tapewhere no elements are attached which provides, after the individualgroups are cut apart, free tape ends necessary for a purpose well knownin the art.

In one system of manufacture, the automatic machines which make thesefastener stringers make the groups of the proper length as closely aspossible, usually under the control of a gap spacing mechanism, whichdepends upon the actual number of fastener elements in the group.

Due to various factors, however, including the stretchability and othercharacteristics of the fabric, weather conditions and tool conditions,there is a slight variation in the length of the groups of fastenerelements and for that reason, it is often necessary to set the stringermaking machine to make a slightly longer group than results in thefinished fastener members to reduce the length to the specifications ofthe finished product.

In other slide fastener manufacturing methods, the stringer makingmachine instead of providing gaps between the groups, will make what istermed a solid chain of stringer, in which the fastener elements extendcontinuously along the edge of the tape. It is then necessary to removesome of the fastener elements to provide gaps or vacant spaces on thetape, thus providing spaced-apart groups of definite length.

The general object of my invention is to provide an improved automaticmachine for removing attached fastener elements from slide fastenerstringers for either of the purposes above set forth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which willremove the fastener elements without injuring the beaded edge or otherfabric portions of the tape.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a machine which willautomatically and accurately locate the fastener stringer with respect55 to the. fastener element removing tools so that the group of fastenermembers may be of the desired accurate length and so that there shallnot remain upon the fabric any mutilated fastener members.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which isautomatic and simple in operation, and in which the replacement cost ofworking tools is reduced to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter more fullyappear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustrationone embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In thedrawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved machine for removingfastener elements from slide fastener stringers, parts of the machinebeing shown schematically;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the fastener elementremoving mechanism on the line transverse to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central cross-sectional view at right angles toFig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary views showing different positions ofthe fastener element removing tools;

Fig. '7 is a plan view illustrating the use of my improved machine forthe purpose of removing excess fastener elements at the end of a groupalong a slide fastener stringer;

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating the use of my improved machine toremove sumcient fastener elements from a solid chain or stringer toprovide the required gap spacing; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed sections taken on lines 9-9 and Ill-l0respectively of Fig. 2.

The machine illustrated consists generally of a rather heavy frame orbed H supported on suitable legs I2. The top of the bed is formed withlongitudinally extending carriage guideways W. The carriage It carriesthe fastener element removing mechanismand has guides l5 cooperatingwith the guideways l3 and is moved along the guideways by means of acrank 16 which turns a small spur gear (not shown) meshing with the rackIT. The carriage may be locked in place at any desired'positi on on theguideway by means of a thumb and set-screw l8. The slide fastenerstringer generally designated l9, feeds into the machine through aspring tensioning device 20 over a drum 2| supported at one end of theframe of the machine. It is pulled through the fastener element removingmechanism by a power driven drum 22 and finally feeds out through achute 23. A conventional adjustable friction clutch is interposedbetween the drum 22 and its supporting shaft 24 to maintain a uniformpull on the fastener stringers, so that when a certain resistance isoffered to movement of the stringer, the clutch 22 will slip and allowthe stringers to remain stationary until such resistance is removed.

A motor 25 is supported on the underside of the machine bed and isbelt-connected to a crossshaft 26. The drum shaft 24 is driven from theshaft 26 by suitable means including the chain A longitudinallyextending shaft 28 is driven from the shaft 24 by any suitable meansincluding bevel gearing and a single revolution clutch which is ofconventional design and therefore not shown in the drawing. A scale 29is provided on the front of the machine and a pointer 30 supported onthe carriage N indicates accurately' the position of the carriage for apurpose which will be later explained.

While a machine may be built in accordance -with my invention forremoving the fastener elements from only on slide fastener stringer at atime, the preferred form provides means for removing fastener elementsfrom two mated stringers. Referring to Fig. 7 showing a portion of themated stringers on an enlarged scale each of the stringers comprisestapes 3| having beaded edges 32 and fastener elements 33 on the beadededges. Each fastener element comprises a head 34 and legs 35 clampedaround the beaded edge of the stringer. It will be noted that thefastener elements on one stringer are staggered with relation to thoseon the other stringer and the heads of the elements on the two stringersare interengaged and interlocked. Fig. 7 illustrates a condition whereinthe group 36 of fastener elements is slightly longer than the desiredlength so that it is necessary to remove three fastener elements, twofrom one side and one from the other. The stringer is shown in Fig. 7 inposition for having these fastener elements removed and the two upperfastener element removing tools 31 are shown with their claw or knifeedges 31a in engagement with the ends of the legs of the fastenerelements to be removed. Fig. better illustrates these not only the upperremoving tools 31 but also the lower removing tools 38 which are on theopposite side of the tape and having their claw or knife edges 38a inengagement with the ends of the legs of the fastener elements on thelower side of the tape.

The general principle of removing these fastener elements can now beseen from Figs. 5 and 6. Upper and lower holding tools 40 and 4|,respectively, are firmly clamped on the central portions of theinterengaged fastener elements, that is, the interlocked head portions.The removing or leg bending tools are now moved from the position ofFig. 5 to Fig. 6. The actual movement from the position ofv Fig. 5 toFig. 6 can be understood only after the description of the operatingmechanism which follows, but for purposes of understanding the broadprinciple of leg bending, it can be assumed that the clamping tools allswing about an axis through the larger of the two openings shown in eachtool. In view of the fact that the axes of this swing ing movementarespaced substantial distances on opposite sides of the tape away, fromthe plane of the tape, the knife edge ends of the bending tools willfirst dig into or under the ends of the legs of the fastener elementsthereby making a firm engagement with them. It is in ,axes of pivoting,which arcs swing inwardly toward the heads and outwardly from the tape.This action serves to open the legs of the fastener elements to a spreador open position as shown in Fig. 6, where they may easily drop or bepushed away from the tapes. It will be observed that the portions of thebending tools adjacent the tapes are beveled off so that their knifeedges will not dig into and injure the tapes.

Referring now to the operating mechanism for the leg opening or bendingtools shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the main drive shaft 2| whichextends longitudinally through the bed of the machine is provided with akeyway 42 and a plate cam 43 is keyed to thls'shaft by a key 44. Thiscam is mounted between two depending brackets 45 depending from thecarriage l4, bushings 46 being placed between the holes in thesebrackets and the shaft 23 so that the shaft turns freely in the bushingsand so that the cam 43 moves with the carriage along the drive shaft 28.The cam follower 41 is journalled at opposite ends in a housing 43 whichmoves up and down supported at its lower end by guides 43 positionedbetween. the housing andthe frame of the carriage l4. This followerbears against the bottom plate 50 attached by suitable screws to thevertical movable housing 48. Slidably mounted in this housing is thebottom tool carriage 52 which at its upper end is provided with slots 53into which the bottom leg bending tools 33 are pivotally mounted on pins54. The bottom fastener element holding tool 4| is fixed in any suitablemanner in this tool carriage. This bottom tool carriage has a lostmotion sliding connection in the housing 48 and is normallyspringpressed upwardly by a coil spring 55 mounted around the centraladjusting screw 33.

The frame casting of the carriage H has upwardly extending brackets 31in which the upper housing 58 is mounted. The periphery of this housing58 is screw threaded at 58 and 63 so that the upper housing can beadjusted upwardly or downwardly by turning the rings BI, 32 which bearagainst suitable surfaces formed on the bracket 51 in the manner clearlyshown in both Figs. 2 and 3. Inside this housing 53 is slidingly mountedthe upper tool mounting 63 which is normally held in its downwardposition by the compression spring 34 mounted around the bolt 65. Thecompression on thisspring is adjusted by screw threaded bushing 66 inthe top plate 6] attached to the housing 53 and the compression of theupp r spring 64 and lower spring 55 is adjusted so that the springsbalance one another. The upper leg bending tools 31 are mounted in slots33 similar to the slots 53 in the tool mounting, so that they can pivoton pins stringers.

purpose is shown in the aforementioned Osgood ends of these screws haveperipheral grooves 18 and extend through vertical openings 14 in theouter ends of the leg bending tools. Pins 15 secured in the leg bendingtools on opposite sides of these openings have reduced-portions 1-8extending into peripheral grooves 13 so that the outer ends of theselower bending tools move up and down withthe housing 48 and the outerends of the upper bending tools remaining stationary with the housing 58except that they may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly as the housing58 is adjusted.

The'operation of this portion of the mechanism may now be explained. Asthe cam 43 operating through the-follower 4'I raises the housing 48inwhich the follower 41 is journalled, the lower tool mounting 52 ismoved upwardly through the spring 53 until the holding tool 4! strikesagainst the heads of the fastener elements, it being understood that theupper holding tool 48 is already being held downwardly against the uppersurface of the fastener elements by compression spring 84. Then asthehousing 5! moves further upwardly the lower tool mounting 52 will slipin the housing 5| but it will continue to 'move upwardly about one halfas last as the housing because at the same time the upper tool mounting88 is moving upwardly against the compression of its spring 64 an amountequal to the'slippagc of the tool mounting 52 in its housing. Th s ameans that both. the upper and lower toolmounting with their attachedhclding tools and the held portion of the slide fastener moves upwardly.as aunit about one half as fast as the lower housing 48 continues tomove. Therefore, the outer ends of the lower clamping tools will' moveupwardly with relation to the pivotal mountings of these tools in thetool mounting 52, thereby swinging the tools about their pivots.Likewise, as soon'as the outer ends of the upper bending tools 31 areheld stationary while their pivotal mountings move ,upwardly, the uppertools will swing about their pivots a like amount.

This produces the action shown in Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 6 showing theposition of Fig. 5 in dotted lines and indicating the movement of thevarious portions of these tools and also the upward movement of the heldportions of the slide fastener When the cam 43 completes its cycle andthe follower drops off the high point of the cam the bending tools willreturn to the position indicated in Fig. 4.

The mechanism for stopping the fastener stringers at approximately theright position with reference to the fastener element remov ng mechanismdoes not constitute any part of my invention and is therefore not shownin detail.

patent. i

Assuming therefore that the general position of the stop finger isrelatively fixed on the bed of the machine, thefastener length willdepend upon the position between the stop finger and the position of thefastener-element removing mech anism, which is adjustable as a wholealong the carriage by means of the crank l8, and variations in lengthare measured on the-scale 29. In view of the fact that the fastenerelements on one side are staggered with relation to those on the otherside, as shown in Figs. '1 and 8, the bending tools are provided withnotches 88 on diagonally.

opposite sides so that when the'fastener elements are in proper registrywith the bending tools on.

one side they will be in proper registry on the other side.

In order to prevent a condition where the corner of the fastener elementremoving tools would be only partially engaged with a fastener element,the illustrated embodiment ofmy invention includes a device foraccuratelypositioning the fastener elements as the leg bending tools arebrought into play. For this purpose, there is attached to the housing 48(see Fig. 3) a key 8|, provided with-a bevelled cam surface 82. When thehousing is lifted upwardly, this cam 82 operates against pin 88 to swingthe lever '84 about the pivot 85 against the-action of thespring-pressed'plunger 86. The upper end of the lever 84 has attachedthereto link 81 carrying at its end the projection 88 adapted to engagbetween two adjacent fastener elements on the stringer. The end of thislever is normally pushed upwardly by aspring-pressed plunger 89 so thatthe projection 88 is in engagement between the fastener elements befcrethe cam 82 strikes the pin 83. Therefore, the movement to tener membersto brush themoff as they pass by One suitable mechanism foraccomplishing this purpose and for controlling the operation of. the onerevolution clutch on the drive shaft 28, is shown and described in thepatent to Osgood 2,096,685, dated October 19, 1937. It is sufficient tosay that a stop finger I1 (see Figs. 7 and 8). rides under the headportions of the fastener elements as the fastener stringers are fedthrough 'the machine, then when the top finger strikes a gap space, asindicated at 19, the stop finger of the tape. When the fastener elementsof the next group strike this stop finger 11 an electriccontactisoperated which throws into operation the one revolution clutchand also drops the stop springs up into the gap space between the edgesfinger out of the way, until the'next forward feeding action. A suitablemechanism for this thisfinger. 7

Whenever it is desired for inspection or access to the space between thebending tools. means is'provide'd for manually raising the upper toolmounting. For this purpose the bolt 65 extends upwardly from the toolhousing through one end of the hand lever 92 which is pivoted at 93. By

means of a link 94 and a bell crank lever 95 ccn- 1 nected to the .lever92, the cover portion 96 of the fastener stringer guide is at the same tme lifted up so that the operator can feed in the fastener stringer orinspect the condition of the tools. This cover is normally held in adownward position over the fastener elements by a spring 95a. The handlever is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of a sprng 91. The extreme end 98 of the lever may also be utilized to lift theclaw finger 98 througha suitable connecting piece 89;

In view of t e above explanation it will be already evident thatthemachine is useful for removing excess fastener'elements at the end ofa group as illustrated in Fig. or if somewhat wider bending tools areprovided, as shown in Fig. 8, the machine may be utilized for removing asufllcient number of fastener elements for a complete gap space.

It will thus be observed that a machine has been devised which willoperate continuously and automatically for the purpose desired. Afterthe fastener stringers are once placed in feeding position'they will befed continuously by the drum 22 except when interrupted at intervals forthe operation of the fastener element removing mechanism. Suchinterruption is caused whenever a resistance such as the stop finger 18is placed in the path of the fastener elements and during that intervalthefriction clutch which drives the drum 22 will slip but will always,be ready again to move the fastener stringers when the resistance tomovement is taken away. As soon as the fastener stringer is thus halted,the main shaft 28 makes a single complete revolution thereby opcratingthe fastener element removing mechanism for the desired purpose and whenits cycle is completed, the fastener stringers are again fed forward toposition the stringers for the next operation.

While I have shown and described in this application one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and thatvarious other forms may be devised within'the scope of my invention.

What I claim as'my invention is:

1. In a machine for removing from slide fastener stringers attachedfastener elements each element having legs clamped around the edge of atape and a head projecting from the tape,

4 means for holding the heads of the fastener members to be removed,legeopening means comprising a pivotally mounted member on each side ofthe tape having means engageable with the fastener element legs onopposite sides of the tape, and means for swinging said members abouttheir pivots after engagement with said legs to bend the legs apartwhereby the fastener elements may fall away from the tape.

2. In a machine for removing from slid fastener stringers attachedfastener'elements each having legs clamped around the edge of a tape anda head projecting from the tape, a guideway along which a fastenerstringer may be moved, leg-bending means engageable between the tape andthe legs of the fastener elements on opposite sides of the tape forbending the legs away from the tape, means for moving the fastenerstringer along the guideway relativ to said leg-bending means. and meansfor locating the fastener stringer with relation to the bending means.

3. In a machine for removing from slide fastener stringers attachedfastener elements each having legs clamped around theedge of a tape anda head projecting from the tape, fastener element holding meansengageable with the heads of the fastener elements to be removed, meansfor moving the fastener stringer to locate said fastener elements in thedesired position with respect to said holding means, and leg bendingmeans adjacent said holding means engageable between the tape and thelegs of the held fastener elements for prying the legs apart and bendingthe legs away from the tape, whereby they may fall away from the tape.

4. In a machine for'removing' a section of the fastener elements onopposite sides of a pair of joined slide fastener stringers wherein thefastener elements on said stringers consist of head 5. In a machine forremoving fastener elements from slide fastener stringers after they havebeen attached to a tape wherein each of the fastener elements has legsclamped around the edge of the tape and a head projecting from the tape,means engageable with the legs on opposite sides of the tape for bendingthe legs away from the tape, comprising a pair of leg bending toolspivotally mounted on opposite sides of the tape, the pivotal axis ofeach tool being spaced a substantial distance away from the plane of thetape, said leg bending tools having sharp edges engageable with the legsof the fastener elements on opposite sides of the tape, and means forswinging said tools about their pivotal mountings whereby the sharpedges are moved apart and bend the legs of the fastener elements awayfrom the tape. v

6. In a machine for removing fastener elements from slide fastenerstringers after they have been attached to a tape wherein each of thefastener elements has legs clamped around the edge of the tape and ahead projecting from the tape, a fastener stringer guide, fastenerelement holding other of such heads, the pivotal axes being located onopposite sides of the plane of the tape and at a substantial distanceaway from the plane of the tape, the prying tools having knife-edge endswhich are moved against opposite sides of the tape when the holdingmeans is moved to holding position, said knife edge ends also engagingthe ends of the fastener element legs, and means for swinging saidprying tools about their pivotal mountings to swing said knife-edge endsapart whereby the knife-edge ends move in arcs laterally toward thefastener elements and transversely to pry apart the legs of thefastener: elements. t

7. In a machine for removing from slide fastener stringers certain ofthe attached fastener elements, each element having ahead and legsprojecting from the head clamped around the edge of a tape, fastenerelement removing tools including portions engageable with the legs ofthe fastener elements to be removed, there being at least one of suchtools on each side of the tape, tool mountings for said tools one oneach side of the tape, said tools being pivotally secured in saidmountings, fastener element clamping tO'ilS secured in said mountingsadjacent said removing tools for clamping the heads of the fastenerelements, means for moving said tool mountings together toward eachother to clamp the fastener elements between the clamping tools and tobring said removing tools into position adjacent the legs of thefastener elements, and means for operating the removing tools abouttheir pivotal axis in said mountings into firm engagement with the legsof the fastener elements and m bending said legs apart. Y 8. In amachine for removing from slide fastener stringers attached fastenerelements each along said bed, and means for indicating the position ofthe fastener element removing mechanism with relation to said stopmeans.

9. In a machine for removing a pre-determinednumber of fastener elementsfrom a pair of connected slide fastener stringers wherein [the 'fas-.tener elements on the opposite stringers are arranged in relativelystaggered position and consist of interengaged head portions and legsprojecting from the head portions and clamped around the edges of a pairof tapes, fastener element removing tools engageable between oppositesides of each tape and the legs of the fastener elements to be removedtherefrom the functioning portion of the removing tool operating on onestringer being offset with reference to the functioning portion of thetool operating on the opposite stringer whereby said tools may be madeto register with the relatively stag ered fastener elements on theconnected stringers, and means for operating said removingtools toremove the fastener elementsengaged thereby.

10. In a machine for removing from slide fastener stringers certain oftheattached fastener elements, each of which has a head and legsprojecting from the head clamped around the edge of a tape, a machinebed and fastener element removing mechanism adjustably mounted on saidbed, means for movinga fastener stringer along said bed through saidremoving mechanism, means for stopping the fastener stringer atintervals in approximately the proper position with reference to saidremoving mechanism, and means operated by said removing mechanism foraccurately adjusting the position of the fastener stringers after-eachsuch stoppage.

11. In a machine for removing from slide fastener stringers: certain ofthe attached fastener elements, each'of which has a head and legsprojectingfrom the head clamped around the edge of a tape, leg bendingtools engageable with the legs onopposite sides of the tape, means formoving the tape, means for operating said tools for bending-the-legsaway from the tape, and means engageable with the fastener elements tobrush away from the tape the fastener elements whose legs have beenbent.

12. In a machine for removing from slide fastener stringers, attachedfastener elements each having legs clamped around the edge of a tape anda head projecting from the tape, upper and lower holding tools forgripping the heads of the fastener elements to be removed, upper andlower leg bending tools adjacent said upper and lower holding toolsrespectively, upper and lower tool mountings carrying said upper andlower holding and removing tools respectively, a vertically movablelower housing in which said lower tool mounting is slidably mounted, acompression spring normally urging said lower tool mounting upwardly,means for' slidably mounting said upper tool mounting, a compressionspring normally urging said upper tool mounting downwardly, and powermeans for operating said lower housing upwardly to force said lower toolmounting upwardly.

CHARLESG. JOHANNESMEYER.

vertically movable

